Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wasilla, Alaska 99645
Saturday, June 8, 1991 14:15 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT DEPARTED THE AIRSTRIP AND CLIMBED TO 500 FEET AGL WHERE HE REDUCED POWER. HE THEN SWITCHED ON HIS FUEL TRANSFER PUMP AND THEN SWITCHED THE FUEL SELECTOR FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK POSITION TO THE RIGHT FUEL TANK POSITION. THE ENGINE STOPPED PRODUCING POWER APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE AFTER HE SELECTED THE RIGHT FUEL TANK. HE SWITCHED BACK TO THE LEFT FUEL TANK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO START THE ENGINE. DURING HIS FORCED LANDING, THE RIGHT WING STRUCK POWERLINES. SUBSEQUENT ENGINE EXAMINATION AND RUN SHOWED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FUEL SYSTEM SHOWED NO ABNORMALITIES.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS AND THE COLLISION WITH THE WIRES.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/8/1991
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone --
Event City WASILLA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99645
Event Date Year 1991
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2500
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 60
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1801
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 45679
Date of most recent change to record Dec 12 2000 10:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4319Z
NTSB Number ANC91FA067
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18-150
Aircraft Serial Number 18-2681
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 2 1990 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 209
Airframe Hours 3264
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID L. GRINDE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P. O. BOX 3236
Aircraft Owner City PALMER
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99645
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name DAVID L. GRINDE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address P. O. BOX 3236
Operator City PALMER
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99645
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City JACKFISH LANDIN
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1405
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City LAKE CREEK
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Landing
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --